A Letter To Your Congressman

This letter, which you could and should send to your Congressmen, was developed by New Priorities Network.

Dear Members of Congress:

 

Federal spending restraints are a constant topic in the midst of both a struggling economy and concerns about the deficit and debt. While there is an effort to cut spending across the broad array of annual discretionary spending programs, Pentagon spending, which comprises 57% of the discretionary budget in the FY 2013 request, continues to absorb the lion’s share.  Without more cuts to Pentagon spending, even very deep cuts to all other discretionary funding taken together will fall far short of alleviating deficit spending and the rising debt.  Pentagon spending needs to continue to be on the table as we consider our fiscal future.

As a community of advocates, we are committed to creating good jobs here in America, providing our families with security and building a brighter future for our children.  If we invest some of the billions we spend on the Pentagon in other sectors of our economy, we would actually generate MORE jobs, strengthening the middle class and protecting essential services that help our families. Economists at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst found that public dollars invested in clean energy, health care, and education all create significantly more jobs within the U.S. economy than investing an equivalent amount in the military.** As we struggle with high unemployment rates across the nation, this is a critical point to consider.

We want a safe and secure nation. The safety of our residents is of utmost importance. Proposals to further cut military spending should not threaten that priority. But the Pentagon budget should not be immune from oversight and fiscal responsibility. Like any other department, the Pentagon must be held accountable for its spending and be able to prove that its programs are a worthwhile use of our limited tax dollars.

We believe budget decisions reflect our values, and we believe that we can responsibly reduce military spending without compromising our nation's security. We can shift from spending on outdated, unnecessary weapons to investments in projects that keep us secure and help us prosper- first responders, teachers, bridges, roads, and rails. As you face some of the most difficult budgeting challenges in our nation's history, we urge you to consider continued responsible cuts to military spending.

Sincerely,

**The U.S. Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities: An Updated Analysis,

University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Department of Economics (December 2011)